National Experts in Architecture and Construction to Explore “Healthy Building Materials” at 6th Annual North Texas Sustainable Showcase 2013

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Event to Feature Innovative Materials for Enhancing Indoor Air Quality and Achieving Environmental Excellence in Commercial and Residential Buildings

Identifying alternatives to pollution sources that release harmful gases or particles is a vital step toward building healthier buildings.

Dallas, Texas (PRWEB)July 01, 2013

AIA Dallas Committee on the Environment (COTE), USGBC North Texas, and the CSI Dallas Chapter will jointly host a showcase of the latest green building products and technologies for commercial and residential use. North Texas Sustainable Showcase 2013 will be held on Thursday, July 11, 2013 at The Dallas Arboretum. In its 6th year, the North Texas Sustainable Showcase will dedicate a full day to focus on healthy building materials.

While concern over poor outdoor air quality continues to mount in North Texas, indoor air quality remains a largely hidden problem. Concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are emitted by thousands of products, are up to 10 times higher indoors than outdoors. These VOCs have short- and long-term adverse health effects including allergies, asthma, chronic respiratory disease and damage to the brain and nervous system. Sustainable Showcase 2013 will convene national innovators in the building industry to explore solutions to poor indoor air quality and other environmental challenges through healthier building materials.

“We are excited about our panel of experts and believe this year’s Sustainable Showcase will give North Texans a better understanding what is available in terms of healthier materials,” said committee planner Chris Mundell. “Identifying alternatives to pollution sources that release harmful gases or particles is a vital step toward building healthier buildings,” added Mundell.

According to Jonathan Kraatz, executive director of USGBC North Texas, “This event is timely given the current push in the design and construction industry for manufacturers and suppliers to provide more transparency with building products and materials. This disclosure will enhance understanding regarding what materials architects and designers are selecting for their projects.”

This year’s showcase will feature as keynote speaker FAIA and LEED Fellow Bob Harris. He has established expertise in combining award winning design and sustainable practices in buildings that respect nature, enhance place and exhibit the craft of construction. Harris has more than 20 years of project experience with a focus on environmental issues ranging from land preservation advocacy to sustainable urban design. For his leadership in the fields of design and sustainability, Bob was elected to College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects in 2007.

NTX Sustainable Showcase is for architects, engineers, interior designers, developers, contractors, owners, facilities managers and others interested in the sustainable building industry. This event will provide panel presentations with experts in the industry who will review why to choose healthy materials, how they affect designs and how to implement in projects.

About AIA Dallas
AIA Dallas, the seventh largest chapter of The American Institute of Architects, empowers architects to excel and impact their practice, profession and community. AIA Dallas has a membership base of more than 2,000 members and 300 architectural firms. More information about AIA Dallas can be found online at http://www.aiadallas.org.

About CSI
The Dallas Chapter of the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) is a local association of design and construction professionals in the Dallas area to further the purposes to which the Institute is dedicated. The Dallas Chapter is committed to offering quality programs and services to serve the needs of its members and the design and construction community. For more information about the Dallas Chapter of CSI, visit http://www.dallascsi.org.

About USGBC North Texas
The North Texas Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council is a non-profit organization. Our mission is simple: promote a sustainable, profitable and healthy built environment in the North Texas area through education, professional training and outreach. For more information about USGBC North Texas, visit http://www.usgbcnorthtexas.org.